ACLU asks Michigan communities to repeal laws against panhandling

11:36 PM,
Oct. 29, 2013

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The ACLU of Michigan is calling on municipalities across the state to repeal panhandling laws it says are unconstitutional.

There are more than 80 cities, villages and townships that have ordinances similar to a decades-old state law that has been struck down by a federal district court judge and the U.S. Court of Appeals, according to the ACLU. The organization sent letters to the municipalities today asking that the ordinances be taken off the books.

"The main problem with this law and now the ordinances is that they essentially make it a crime to be poor," said Dan Korobkin, staff attorney ...